Iran war: What is happening on day 19 of US-Israel attacks?

EXPLAINERIran vows revenge after Israeli strikes kill security chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani.Published On 18 Mar 2026Iran has pledged “revenge” after Israeli strikes killed security chief Ali Larijani and commander of Basij paramilitary forces Gholamreza Soleimani, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying Tehran’s political system remains strong as the war entered its 19th day.Iran launched more attacks on Israel, causing extensive property damage, after an earlier strike killed two people in Ramat Gan.Recommended Stories list of 2 itemslist 1 of 2Iran vows ‘revenge’ for Larijani, Soleimani; 2 killed in attacks on Israellist 2 of 2Drone attacks hit near US embassy in Baghdadend of listThe conflict is increasingly spilling across the region as Iran and allied groups have launched missiles and drones targeting Gulf countries, with attacks reported in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan.Political tensions are also rising in the United States, as senior counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigned, saying “we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby”.Meanwhile, President Donald Trump criticised NATO allies and partners for failing to provide stronger military support in efforts to end Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.Here is what we know:In Iran High-profile killings: Tehran is mourning the loss of two important figures: security chief Ali Larijani and Basij force commander Gholamreza Soleimani, both killed in Israeli strikes. Their deaths mark a severe blow to the Iranian establishment. Political fallout: Larijani was widely regarded as a pragmatic, seasoned politician who had the capacity to open windows for negotiation. He led the nuclear talks before the war started. Analysts say Israel’s move to kill him may be aimed at closing the diplomatic avenues to end the war. Iranian retaliation: In response to the strikes, Iran launched attacks on central Israel. Iran’s FM Araghchi told Al Jazeera that the US is responsible for the war engulfing the region. He denied targeting civilians, warning that the US military presence across the Gulf makes escalation unavoidable. Iran has executed a man it accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. No change in World Cup venues: FIFA said the 2026 World Cup matches will proceed as scheduled, rejecting Iran’s request to move its games from the US to Mexico despite the ongoing war. Hormuz traffic resumes: Iran is allowing a small but growing number of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, with eight non-Iranian vessels detected on Monday, according to maritime data. Rising death toll: At least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured in US-Israeli attacks on Iran since February 28, according to Iran’s Ministry of Health. In the Gulf